Jimmy Kimmel accepts the Emmy for outstanding variety special for "The Oscars" during the Television Academy's 76th Creative Arts Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, Sept. 7, 2024. (Phil McCarten/Invision for the Television Academy/AP)Jimmy Kimmel's supporters continue to speak out against ABC's decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live! over on-air comments he made about conservative activist Charlie Kirk's killing.
More than 400 Hollywood stars co-signed a letter published by the American Civil Liberties Union condemning the move and urging all Americans to "defend free speech.""We the people must never accept government threats to our freedom of speech," their letter begins. "Efforts by leaders to pressure artists, journalists, and companies with retaliation for their speech strike at the heart of what it means to live in a free country."AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe network's decision to take Kimmel off the air, which came after the Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr threatened to punish ABC and its parent company Disney over the remarks, was "a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation," the letter states."In an attempt to silence its critics, our government has resorted to threatening the livelihoods of journalists, talk show hosts, artists, creatives, and entertainers across the board," the letter states. "We know this moment is bigger than us and our industry. Teachers, government employees, law firms, researchers, universities, students and so many more are also facing direct attacks on their freedom of expression."It adds: "Regardless of our political affiliation, or whether we engage in politics or not, we all love our country. We also share the belief that our voices should never be silenced by those in power - because if it happens to one of us, it happens to all of us. This is the moment to defend free speech across our nation."The open letter was signed by some of Hollywood's biggest names, including Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Robert DeNiro, Ben Stiller, Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks.
How we got hereJennifer Aniston on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" in 2021. (Randy Holmes/ABC via Getty Images)It comes less than a week after ABC announced that it was pulling Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air "indefinitely" after Carr criticized comments Kimmel had made earlier this week about the motives of Kirk's alleged killer.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDuring his monologue on Sept. 15, Kimmel said that President Trump's supporters were trying to "score political points" by portraying Kirk's accused killer, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, as a left-wing radical, and suggested Robinson was "one of them.""This is a very, very serious issue right now for Disney," Carr said on a right-wing podcast before the suspension was announced. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to take action on Kimmel or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead." Nexstar, a major operator of ABC-affiliated stations, said it would not broadcast Jimmy Kimmel Live! "for the foreseeable future."Sinclair, the largest operator of ABC affiliates, said in a statement that it would not lift the suspension "until formal discussions are held with ABC regarding the network's commitment to professionalism and accountability." It also called for Kimmel to make a "direct apology" and "meaningful personal donation" to the Kirk family and Turning Point USA, the conservative youth organization Kirk cofounded.
People are boycotting Disney in protest of Kimmel's suspensionA demonstrator holds a sign in response to the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show outside of Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, Calif., on Sept. 18. (Jae C. Hong/AP)Critics of ABC's decision have since been calling for a boycott against Disney, including some actors and directors featured in Disney shows and movies.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementTatiana Maslany, star of Marvel's She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, which aired on Disney+, urged her Instagram followers to "cancel your @disneyplus @hulu @espn subscriptions!"Damon Lindelof, the creator of Lost, expressed his solidarity with Kimmel and said that if his suspension is not lifted, "I can't in good conscience work for the company that imposed it."Marisa Tomei, who starred in Disney's Avengers, reposted a call to "unsubscribe and boycott" Disney platforms.
The hashtags #BoycottDisney and #BoycottABCNetwork continued to trend online over the weekend, with participants posting screengrabs of their canceled subscriptions to social media.
Howard Stern and Ted Cruz agree: U.S. government should not get involvedSen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, during a hearing on Capitol Hill on Sept. 16. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)Howard Stern, Sirius XM radio host and Kimmel's friend, said on his show Monday that he also planned to cancel his subscription to Disney+ to boycott ABC's parent company.
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